Main valve for fire hydrants



R. H. MUELLER ETAL MAIN VALVE FOR FIRE HYDRANTS 2 SHEETS-SHEET l WIL/ 48 A 3 wu @www Robert Hueller www @Ew-malin@ Y @M9 f March 10, 1953 Filed June 27, 1947 March 10, 1953 R. H. MUELLER ETAL MAIN VALVE FOR FIRE HYDRANTS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed June 27, 194'? o'bertHMueller WEarlE Cl ne 53M www @0% Maud Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED '.ATENT 'iGFFICE 'Robert H. Mueller -and Earl E. Cline, Decatur,

- Ill.,-assignors toMueller Co.; Decatur, Ill., a; cortporationof. Illinois -ADlJlicationJ une 27, 1947,"Serial No. 757,600

'11"Claims. "l

lIThe .present invention; relates 'to ffl-re" hydrants generally of the type comprising a vertiealbarrel and shoe, with ahydrant valve `positionednear the lower end of the barrel ,and .capable of manual operationfrom abovethe barrel. "'Suchlhydrants include various .arrangements of koutlet'nozzles ,adjacent the top of thebarrel, as Wellas dilerent Atypes .of lubricant baths effective to lubricate ,around Athe upper endotthe valve. stem and'in and .around the operating nut therefor.

In our copen'ding lapplication, Y,Serial No. 718,752,1iled' December 27,1946,Y the general Atype ofA a hydrant structure. referred .tol is disclosed, and .the .preferred embodiment of .themain hydrant valve vis-also disclosed in saidapplication.

.-Theprinci-palobjectvof the invention is to provide a main hydrant valve.,of,-improved design, .and .which is capable ,..ofbeing removed..as..a .unit through. the barrel. of the. hydrantland` from .the shoethereof. Included-.intheabovelpurposeI .'bushing, .inforder ..to remove .the L.entire valve assembly. from the L barrel by :the simple. ,opera- ,tion of. turningtheyalva stem .witha wrench.

...it is.;v an l import-annobject ofthe.- .inventon `-to provdearvalve. assembly.. of ,thefabove type, provided vwith eiective.4 means for. Idrainingthe: linterior .ofthe hydrantjaarrel when. the mainvalve is. movedto its .-sea,t, thegdrainage mechanism including 'means for .automatically :closing vthe drainage passages-when :the 4mainvalve member is :moved from. its-seat.

In fgeneraL. it is animportant :purpose of the .invention to .provide.a1simple;*yet-durablefassemb ly.;for thev abovebpurposes which; will-effectively prevent `leakage `of water fromithe interior fof the v hydrant. iParticularly, fthe :several @designs disclesedinclude anovel arrangement of `Orings surrounding the :outlets :providedi'by the valve drainage ports, in. :order that `adequate drainage maybe had'without-any1possibility of undesirable leakage: of awaterfromlthe? hydrant.

It is 'also a'l purposerf the invention to rprovide a main hydrant valve construction'-having'means vfor preventing undesirable 'disengagement ofthe valve stem from thevalve'member.

Various other objects 'and .advantages ofl the invention 'willbe apparent as the Vdescription herein progresses.

In the drawings:

Figure r1 is a vertical 'sectional .View o-fthe lower part 4ofthe hydrant'barrel' andtshoe and of the 'main valve assembly,positionedtheren Figure is a horizontal sectional view through the hydrant barrel" taken along theJlinef12-"2 `of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial verticaLse'ctional view through the lower portion of the hydrant barrel and shoe taken .at .substantially right. angles .to

lthe view ofFigurel, for "instance, generally the main valve is shown .in its openposition.

Figure 4. is. `a horizontal sectional. view through the valve stemvv just .above the drain valve seats,

for instance, along thelinei-d.ofFigureL -Figure .1.

. Figure 7 is a .partial sectional i view .through .the-.arms v.or webs of I the valve @seat member, showing ...the drainage, ports-and. the, relation .of the drainage. valve membery or..plate thereto.

. Figure S. .isa .verticalsectionalV View similarto Eigurel vof -1 al Vmodied. form; of the. invention.

.Fgure'9 is =apartial lvertical sectionalfview, at. right; angles .to that-of. Figure.-8, butshowing theirmain valve in its openfposition. .-Eigure-'9 -isY takenin. the plane indicated by the lines9-;9 of Figure l0.

yFigure l()Y is ka horizontal Isectional -view `taken `along the-line I0-#|11 4of Figure 8.

:Figure l1 is a horizontal isectional'view' taken .along'the line II-ll ofFigure'iS.

Figure 12.is ka vertical'sectional view'taken along :the'line l2 2 Vof 'Figure "l1, illustrating theconstruetion yof the main valve member.

lFigure 13 is a horizontal seetionalviewfthrough the valve stem, taken along-the line `|3l3of lFigure 8.

Figure 14 isxa similar' horizontal sectional View taken along the line I 4-"I 4'of`Figuref 8.

Figure l5'is a viewsimilar toi-Figure l2, ive., a vertical sectional view of the .main valve member,` but.showinga. modified-'mannen foreattachment of the upper valve washer to the valve stem.

Figure 16 is a horizontal sectional view, further illustrating the method of attachment just mentioned, being taken along the line iIi-IS of Figure 15.

In Figure l, a substantially cylindrical hydrant barrel is shown at B, and it has a shoe E at its lower end, and a bonnet or hood at its upper end as shown in our copending application referred to, but not specifically disclosed herein.

As is well known in the art, the hydrant has a valve operating stern S, which operates a main valve member V in order to control the discharge of water from the side outlets or nozzles at the upper end of the barrel, and which are not shown in the drawings.

The barrel B is of appropriate diameter for insertion of the valve parts to be mentioned and described herein, and in the present embodiment, the barrel is formed of an upper section I and a lower section I2. These sections are detachably connected together by anges I4 secured by frangible bolts I6. Similarly, the valve stem S comprises an upper section I8 and a lower section which are detachably held together by a sleeve 22 bolted around the union of said sections. Such sleeves are now well known in the art, and they are sometimes provided with a weakened portion at a point where the ends of the two sections of the valve stems are presented toand slightly spaced from one another, permit the parts of the valve stem to separate without fraction. As is well known in the art, the flanges of the barrel sections, the ends of the valve stem sections, the weakened portion of the sleeve 22 and of the bolts I6 are all in horizontal alignment. When an object strikes the hydrant, it will break in the horizontal plane referred to, without material damage to the valve parts. The parts are capable of reassembly by merely replac ingr the sleeve and bolts.

The shoe E has the usual means 25 for connection with the main or source of water supply, and at its outer end it has a top central opening surrounded by an inwardly projecting flange 26, the top surface of the flange being flat in order to provide for engagement with the circular flange 28 of the hydrant barrel, which may be attached to the flange 25 by bolts as shown. The barrel of the hydrant is preferably made of cast iron, and at its lower open end, is provided with an inside circular recess 30. An annular non-ferrous metal bushing 32 is tightly pressed and secured in this recess, and said bushing is interiorly threaded adjacent its lower end in order to receive and secure an annular non-ferrous valve seat ring 34 which is exteriorly threaded adjacent its lower end as shown in Figure l. The valve seat ring 34 has a central opening therethrough, which is dened by a downwardly presented and outwardly tapering valve seat 36.

It will be noted that the surface of the flange 26 around its opening extends inwardly a sufficient distance as at 31 to lie beneath the bushing 32 and to also serve as a limiting abutment for the valve seat ring 34 when it is threaded into the bushing 32. The shoulder thus formed at 3l serves to properly position the valve seat. The valve seat ring 34 comprises a lower annular portion which includes the valve seat 36 as just referred to, and an upper portion comprising a pair of radially directed legs or spiders 38 terminating in a central hub 4D. 'The open space through the seat ring between the legs 38 is great enough to provide free flow of water when the valve is open, as is clear from an examination of Figure 3. The legs 38 need only be large enough to contain the hydrant drain passages to be referred to, and to support the central hub 40.

As best shown in Figure 4, there is a central vertical opening 4I through the hub 4B, which is of polygonal form corresponding with the cross sectional form of the valve stem, thereby permitting vertical sliding movements of the valve stem, while restraining any rotation thereof during normal operation of the hydrant. The valve stem may be square in the cross section from the valve member or head, up to a ledge 42 as shown in Figure 1. The polygonal or square portion of the valve stem is designated 43.

Extending through each of the legs 38 are drain passages 44` The outer ends of these passages connect with an annular groove 45 in the outer wall of the valve seat ring. A number of spaced radial openings 46 extend through the wall of the bushing 32 and through the wall of the barrel and connect with the groove 45 in the seat ring. These openings are lined with brass ferrules.

The passages 44 turn in a vertical direction near their upper ends, and they open into a flat upper valve face or ground surface which forms the top of the central bushing 40. The open ends of the passages are enlarged and receive therein resilient washers 50 of rubber or the like which normally project above the ground valve surface of the hub 40. The washers may be interiorly lined with brass ferrules to prevent collapse. The washers 5E] are positioned to be engaged by a valve plate 52 slidably mounted on an elliptical portion 53 (Figure 6) of the valve stem above the shoulder 42. The valve plate 52 has an area and is of the general form shown in Figure 2 adapting it to overlie and cover the openings in the washer Sil. It has a central opening which has the shape of the shaft portion 53 as is indicated in Figure 2. When the main valve is closed, as shown in Figure 1, the shoulder at 42 on the valve stem raises the drain valve plate 52 from its seat on the top surface of the central hub 40, thus permitting the hydrant barrel to drain through the passages 44 in the arms 38.

Above and below the annular groove 45 located at the lower ends of the passage 44 and around the outside wall of the valve seating ring 34, there are upper and lower annular sealing grooves 54 (Figure 3) which receive O-rings therein. The grooves 54 are square in cross section, whereas the O-rings are circular in cross section, whereby a tight seal is insured between the valve seat ring and thebushing 32 above and below the ports 46. Any fluid under pressure which would tend to escape would cause the O-rings to more tightly seal as is now well known in the art.

The main valve comprises a seat washer 55 of packing or similar material, preferably laminated in nature and held between a bottom metal washer 56 and a top metal washer 51, these parts being assembled and held in place by means of a nut 58 threaded onto the lower end of the valve stem. The top valve plate, or washer 51 and the portion 43 of the valve stem may be cast of such as brass or bronze, and ribs 59 may be provided on the top of plate 51. The outer edges of these ribs serve to center the valve when it engages the seat, said edges being guided into the central opening through the valve seat ring.

By reason of the fact that the portion 53 of the valve stem and the opening through the drain valve plate 52 are of the same elliptical form,

fwhenthefvalve- Vif is. pulledupwardly ontoitsrseab f the shoulder-4 2. .on-.thea'valve stemfisr displacedto a, .position somewhat abovezthetopV surfaceof-the resilient rwashers .50. .This l.slfioulder `thus Elifts the drainv valvemember arsli'ghtdistanceabove ,the openings through the-.washerto'` the; .passages 44 as illustrated in.-Figure 1,to permitfdrainage vfrom the hydrant as referred to. -When the valve stem is `moved idownwardly to open the main valve for ow of-watert therethrough, the lower 'edge of the -collar `illgonizthe Valvegstem engageszthegplate 52? and forces itfdownwardly against: the washers 50 to 'compress thesameand tc'thus seal'offzthe 'openings previously described,` sothat the-hydrant body is closed except' at itsioutletsfwhenthe: main valveiisopen. Thetop face of the vhub=$0 :and the lower face-.o the drain' valve-:platefzEZ maybe ground to *..providezmetaletoemetal sealing contact when' the openings: are thus closed.

' Referring .to Figure 1.' when :the A-main zvalve 4member is moved downwardly fromitsrseatgthe ledge 4 2 passes into the :central opening through vthe hub 40 and-the drainrvalvez` member 52 by 'its own weight engages the :bushings `50 and thereby-closes` the drain outlets or f passages.

: Subsequent and; further downward movement I of thevalve stem brings' the lower end of the'collar 60 into engagement :with the drain valve member 52, as illustrated inFigures'B and 7, and the rubber washersj :are .compressed untilxthe valve member 52makesa metal-to-metal contact with the top kface ofthe hub vlll), the-.engaging faces being appropriatelyeground .toi-provide for metal-to-*metalgsealing :contact when the drain openings are closed. Thezengagement ofthe collarfSB iwith theplate52 and the/engagement of the latter with -v the :top surface of :the hub :40 serves to limit thefdegree of Yopeningofgthe-,iriain valve V.

The mechanism for operating. the-' -valveistem in accordancew-ith the above. description is disclosed in our copending application referred to, and the description need not .be repeated. herein.

In the event that it is necessaryA to removethe main valve or its stem, a..wrench is-applied to ;the upper squaresection of, the .valve stem-.andappropriate turning of thisstem-will unthreadand removethe valveseat ring by reasonof thevpolygonal portion 43 thereof, which passes through the polygonal opening. in therhubAU of-thevalve seat ring. `Obviously, the valve membersand its seat, together with `the associated parts'. referred to, constitute `a :unitaryqstructure'capable of being shipped, installed,^ removed and replaced as za unit.

In Figures 8 through 15, afmodicationrf a main valve assembly of the typedescrbed iswdisclosed, the` hydrant barrel -B vbeingg-generally; the same that described inrconnectionf with athe principal embodiment of the Uinvention. .The valve stem-S is of appropriate polygonal form, for instance, of hexagonal: cross section ras shown throughout the Variousl views. -The bushinge for receiving the valve seat*isfclampedfbetween the flanges 66 and 68 ;off.the loweriendfrofithe hydrant barrel and-shoe--E- respectively. Appropriate sealing washers are provided betweemthe engaging parts as shown-@alongtherlowerusurface of the nange-BG andyon thedepressed; ledge 'l0 in theitopface of the langeofrtheshoe This ledge encircles the top opening .fromthe interior of the shoe.

The seating ring-64 has a. centralvertical bore therethrough .which terminates vat its lowerwend vman inwardly;taperedestopr face l2. '.Thisabore 6 is zinterioriy ithreaded above its stop face, as shown, and is adaptedztorreceive 4fthe valve seat Atring :14" whichrhas: corresponding :engaging vex- 'teriorr threads. :Then valve :seatrring is provided withfa' lower tapering endwhiclr contacts the stop :face 12 of the fbushingll, thus limiting the degreet of :insertion of the valve seat ring. The valve seat ring has a central flow opening, which is demined A--by an i inwardly n .tapering main `valve r seat Mirto .bezcontactedrbyrthe main valve member as .previously described There are :right `angulau' 2drainpassagesf8 whichextend from the top face B2= (CEig:ure.1 1)-1of.the valve seatring' to the outer vertical-@walkthereof,.and the upperrv ends .ofithesegpassages-aare fitted with rubber ewashers ,184.1of form-.and-.arrangement similar to the wash- Aerstl) previously described. :'I'hese :washers are holloweandgproject;abovepthetop face 82 of the Ivalve sseatfanember, zand they @may be provided ,-.Withinside brass ferrules for-support and rigidity. The.bushi-ng- 64hasean inside annular groove .86g andi'. the lowereends -of theg passages 80. connect with this groove. Leading outwardly from theggrooveeaat. appropriate spaced Points 1 are eutleti passages rwhichl, pass through the wall of the: bushing .164 toedischarge water draining from the .hydrant between the riianges 66 and 68 offthefbarreltand'shoe, respectively. In order `to=` provide an feifectiversealgaboverand below the drain outlet'passageathe' valve-seat. ring is pro- .videdewith circulargrooves ando-rings as previouslyidescribed, infitsoutersurface above the passage 6G) and in itselofwer .tapered Vend surface below thefpassage.v 8 l The; main valvef. 'member ais: composed of parts Smalcn dsigmand materialto those described in :connection :with the principal embodiment herein. '.*Therexisgajrlowerfvalverpart or. nut 90 andran guppen-brass :valve efpart .92 and clamped between these. p-artsJare-sthefvalve..packing rings 94CFigurei12). 'iThefpartsare clamp-ed together by. action :of the? lowersA cylindrical: threaded -end eof; thefvalveistem onto which -isthreaded the lowen .nut901as atl 91.

"AThe-lowerf-portion 98e ofthe valveA` stem S is hexagonal Ain-formfdown toy the ledge 99,4 where itemerges with` the reduced *lowerv threaded end' 96 of `thefvalve-stem. Thereisfa'collar lI 630 pinned onto-the'fvalve'stemportion =918 ata point spaced above 'thewvalvemembery as "shown in Figures ,8

andrli. Belowithiscollar, and loosely arranged on the valve. stem,is a sleeve 10| ,othexagonal form Figure 10).. 'Thissleeve engages the collar |510 at. its ,upper .erid,..and is, arranged so that its`;.lower..end,..and, ,the. corners thereof, Vwill 1 abut .the'ftoppedgebL-the .boss S3 onI the upper valve part ..92 @when the -.-nut ..790 l. -is threaded onto .the lowerendof thevalve. stem. The bossY 513 has :an interior. cyl-indrioal,..bore .of diameter to embrace but slideon.thealowerf.cylindricalqend9B of the valve stem.

`Tlf-1er lower valve part; hasf a central upwardly proecting cy-lindrcarwall. l:2;-around which. the

packingirings I4-fare ,placed and. this wall.l has za' cuteoutftdftherein (best shown in Figure:15), mtoaWhichprojec-ts .ailug :|166 '(Fgure .12) dependingffromitheflowerf facesof-tthe. upper valve part;;92. Bycmeansioffzthe:lockingfeaction of the lng H36 anda'groove irkzbothtopaand bottom parts of r-thez-valve .:membergwll .'zturnv together as the nut ;isithreadedrontotheHloWerf-end of the valvestemzgatfigandfwhenithe.boss193 contacts sleeve Il (which isrheidfat its iupperl endagainst collar. L00) the vlipperz-valve.para-will :bei jammed 7 between the nut and sleeve and the packing 94 will thus be tightly compressed.

An appropriate set screw |98 may be provided through the upwardly extending boss 93 on the top valve part 92, to lock the upper valve part to the valve stem after the lower valve part is threaded home onto the valve stem as previously described.

In Figures 15 and 16 an alternative arrangement is shown for connecting the main valve parts to the valve stem. In this arrangement, the hexagonal portion 9S' of the valve stem is of slightly increased length, extending substantially to the lower clamping face of the upper valve part 92. This valve part has an upwardly extending boss 93' (Figure 16) of cylindrical form large enough to slide over the hexagonal end of the valve stem. After the valve parts are assembled on the stem as previously described the boss 93' is crimped inwardly at opposite points as at ||2 (Figure 16) to thus lock the main valve parts against rotation with respect to the valve' stem after assembly.

It will be evident that the alternative means `iust described will protect the screw threaded connection of the valve stem with the nut 90, particularly when using the valve stem to thread the valve seat I4 into and from its bushing 64.

As in the preferred embodiment of the invention, guide wings lili are employed on the upper surface of the top valve part 92, these wings serving to properly guide the main valve through the opening in the valve seat ring.

The valve seat ring is equipped with opposite pairs of upwardly extending ears IIB (Figure 9). These ears serve to center or control the movement of the outer or drain valve member ends lla of a slidable yoke |20, the ends of this yoke being retained against complete displacement by cotter pins |22 which extend between the ears IS above the valve member ends I I8 of the yoke |20. The lower faces of the ends of the yoke are ground to form drain valve faces which engage against washers 84 to close the drain passages in the same manner as described in connection with the principal embodiment of the invention. The center of the yoke has a hexagonal opening therethrough as shown at |24 (Figure l) and this opening fits around the hexagonal sleeve IGI which is loosely mounted on the hexagonal portion of the valve as previously described.

When the main valve is closed, the upwardly extending boss 93 on the top of the upper valve part contacts the drain valve yoke |20 and thus lifts the drain valve members on the opposite ends of the yoke above the valve seat and the rubber washers 84, as shown in Figure 8. When the valve stem is moved downwardly to displace the main valve member from its seat, the removal of the upper ends of the boss 93 from beneath the drain valve yoke |20 permits the latter to'drop by gravity against the washers 84 and thus to close the drain outlets. Subsequent downward movement of the valve stem brings the collar UD against the top of the yoke |29 as shown in Figure 9, thus forcing the yoke downwardly and the valve member faces on the opposite ends of the yoke into intimate contact with the corresponding vvalve faces on the upper surface 82 of the valve seat ring, compressing the rubber washers until rm metal-to-metal contact is had. The contact just mentioned serves to limit the opening movement of the main valve.

As in the case of the principal embodiment of the invention, the valve seat ring may be removed from the surrounding bushing and taken from the barrel of the hydrant as a part of the valve assembly, by simply applying a wrench to the valve stem and turning it in an unthreading direction. By reason of the hexagonal connection between the main valve stem and the yoke |20, and the arrangement of the outer ends of this yoke between the ears H6 which are integral with the valve seat ring, the latter will be turned and Unthreaded from the bushing 64 when the main valve stem is operated by a wrench. As in the case of the principal embodiment, the main valve assembly may be shipped, installed, removed for repair and replaced all as a unit.

It will be noted that the nut 9B has a bottom closed projecting portion which seals the lower end of the valve stem against leakage.

The construction of the main valve parts, while of the utmost simplicity, is well adapted for preventing loosening of the valve stem from the main valve parts. In the embodiment of Figure 8, the lower valve part 9U can be screwed upwardly on the threaded lower end 96 of the valve stem to compress the packing against the upper valve part 92. During this threading movement, the upper valve part turns until it is displaced far enough upwardly to be in wedging contact with the lower end of the hexagonal sleeve |01, the corners of which bear against the upper face of the boss 93. Further tightening of the lower valve part or nut 90 wedges the upper valve part firmly against the sleeve |9|. By reason of the direct connection between the valve stem and the top valve part either in the form of the set screw |98 or the crimps 2 (Figure 16), the threads on the lower end of the valve stem where they connect with the nut 99 are protected duringr turning movements of the valve stern.V These threads are protected when the valve stem is turned to unthread the valve seat ring 'I4 from its bushing 64, the turning force of the wrench being transmitted directly to the valve seat ring and not through this threaded connection.

It will be apparent that we have provided main valve designs of pronounced simplicity, which insure proper drainage from the hydrant, yet effective closing and sealing of said drainage passages when the main valve is opened. It will likewise be apparent that the designs disclosed are of pronounced usefulness in removing the valve assembly as a unit, with adequate protection against injuring any of the connections of the main valve while using the valve stem in removing or installing the hydrant valve seat.

It will also be noted that in all of the embodiments herein, no stop is required in the interior of the hydrant shoe to limit the movement of the main valve, thus leaving a clear water way through the shoe to the valve seat. The valve stem and associated parts may 1be of any polygonal or elliptical cross section to prevent turning of the valve stem during normal operation and to impart turning movement, when desired, to the removable valve seat.

Throughout the embodiments herein, the valve seat'ring and companion bushing are made of non-ferrous metal and are connected by straight threads, to facilitate their separation.

This application is a continuation-impart of our earlier filed application Serial No. 718,752 referred to. The embodiment of Figure l of that application, as far as the main hydrant valve is concerned, is included herein, being disclosed in Figures l-7 of the present application. Figures .dosages of spaced .annnlenrccc esfthclc' i; .scaling rings. insaid recesses Oife nergialcrgsssection dicrcnt freni .the .-clcssfsecticn @cf inc recesses, cnc rcccssbeingabcvcyan cnc ing-from an inner surface tlfiereof` to said 'gro ve, said inner lsurface '-,around Said@ Daafe ing 1 drain valve scat -af-.drain valve mounted on said stem and positioned above said drain valve seat, said seat ring having a downwardly tapered main valveseat, a main valve stem in said barrel, a main valve member carried by the lower end of Asaid stem to engage said main valve seat `upon upward movementof ,said main valve member, said stem beingnop-ciifcular in cross-section, a yoke for impartingrotation to said seat ring to remove it from said bushing comprising a pair of arms connected to said seatring, and a centralA hnnsaid hub-.having ancnening embracng--snid stern. .andci th cular ccntcur .Sissa stem for urging saidw agY l Said drainvalve 'scattcclcsc .Seid dreinfpassage .upon downward movement cfssaid stemt@ geen the main valve.

2. In a nre hydrant, a body-:providedvatiits inner endwith interior threadsy for the.attah ment of a seat ring, a valve.. tern in said-body having a vmain valve memberro its innerendfsa main valve seat ring mounted on,said stem-gutwardly vof said valve membereoinprising andannular portion and a central hub Vconnected by a plurality of radi-al arms, said hub having a noncircular opening through which said stem extends and said stem being of corresponding non-circular form where it passes through said 5 opening, said seat ring having a central opening dened by a main valve seat and being threaded on its exterior surface which threads are adapted to coact with the threads on the body, whereby said stem may serve to thread said seat ring in said body, said hub having an outer face constituting a drain valve seat, at least one of said arms having a drain passage therethrough which traverses said seat ring from the outer face of said hub and registers with a drain outlet leading to the exterior of the hydrant, a ydrain valve member on said stem, and means on said stem to operate said drain valve member to open said drain passage upon movement of said stern to close the main valve.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said seat ring has a lower tapered valve seat and an annular guiding surface for said valve member above said seat, and wherein said main valve member has a tapered face to engage said seat-.and `guiding means. to enter and engage the guidingsurfaceof saidseat-ri-ng to` center thetapered face-.of said valve member. against its seat.

4. .A .construction in accordance .with claim 2 wherein .saiddrain .valvevmember Ycomprises a plate mounted on `.Said stem .abovesaid hub, vsaid plate having a non-.circular .opening therethrough which embraces; said.non=circular.fstem to pree vent. rotation of said plate. on said stem.

A .construction inaccordance with-claim 2 wherein said drain .valve membencomprises a I .platev mounted on said. stem above said hub, .and

wherein there is a collar on said stem spaced above said Aplate t4to .contact the latter-l vvhensaid valve stemis moved downvvardly,.-said collar serving t0 sealsaidplate against said drain lvalve seat and to.limit.the degree of opening .of thev main valve.

.`6.:I-n.a.iir.e hydrant, abody provided 4atits innenend with interiorthreads Afor the attache ment. Aof a seat ring, `avalve .stem in saidbody havingafmain val-ve member on its: inner end, a mainvalveseat ring mounted. .on said stem out.- vvvardlyy .of .said .valve member. comprising ancan= nular-portion and. a :centraly hub. connected -bya plurality of radial. arms, said.. hub havinggainonscircular opening through. which said stemextends and said 4.stem being.V of. corresponding nongcircular v'form where it passes through said. opening, said seat ring having. acentral opening dened by.- al` main valve seat Y.andi being threaded1 on. its exterior surface .which threadsare .adapted `to Qaci? with thethreads on theabody, .whereby said stemtmayserve .to thread saidseatringin said body, .said hubL having an-outer face; consti.- tutingiaydrain valve seat, at least one .of said armshavinga :drain passage therethroughwhich traversesisaid `seat ring fromethe .outerface .of Said hub. and -registers..with..a. .drain outlet leade ing-,tothe exterior of the hydrant,y theouter'face of. saidlnulc.I .having .asmooth valve surfacearound the, opening therein f 0f. .Said drain passage Aand being counter-bored arQundsaid 4openingnJ `resilg imi? washer. in Said.. counter-chore `which. extends @eyelid-.Said ',.SmQQlhrValve surface, .a .drainvalve member comprising a plate having a smooth under surf-acc. mounted .on .said .stem-beyond. said heb, v@said stern :having :spaced inner and ,outer stuit-genis thereon resnectivelyidliftlsaid plate toi-tenen the .dr-.ain valve ythe-main valve-,of the hydrant is closed, and to seal said under surface of said plate against the corresponding surface on said hub by sealing compression of said washer when the main hydrant valve iS fully opened.

7. In a fire hydrant, a body provided at its inner end with interior threads for the attachment of a seat ring, a valve stem in said body having a main valve member on its inner end, a main valve seat ring mounted on said stem outwardly of said valve member comprising an annular portion and a central hub connected by a plurality of radial arms, said hub having a noncircular opening through which said stem extends and said stem being of corresponding non-circular form where it passes through said opening, said seat ring having a central opening defined by a main valve seat and being threaded on its exterior surface which threads are adapted to coact with the threads on the body, wherebysaid stem may serve to thread said seat ring in said body, said hub having an outer face constituting a drain valve seat, each of said arms having a drain passage therethrough extending from spaced inlets in the outer face of said hub, said seat ring having a connecting outlet passage therethrough leading to the exterior of the hydraht, a ydrain valve member comprising a plate mounted on said stem overlying the inlets t said passages, said plate having a non-circular opening therein where it embraces said stem to maintain said plate in overlying relation with respect to said inlets, said stem having an abutment thereon to engage said plate and lift it above said inlets when the main valve of the hydrant engages its seat, said abutment being p0- sitioned on said stem to release said plate to close said inlets when the main valve of the hydrant is moved from its seat.

8. The structure dened in claim 1 in which the valve member comprises top and bottom parts with valve seat packing held between them, said parts having cooperating engaging means which lock them against relative turning movement with respect to one another around the axis of the valve stem, said bottom part comprising a nut threaded onto the lower end of said stem, said top valve part having an opening therethrough and fitting over 'the valve stem above its threaded end, and including means for locking said top valve part to said stem.

9. The structure dened in claim 1 in which the valve stem above said valve member is noncircular in cross section and said valve member comprises top and bottom parts, said top part having an opening therethrough to receive the valve stem, said bottom part comprising a nut threaded on the lower end of said valve stem, there being valve packing means secured between said top and bottom valve parts, and including a collar on said valve stem spaced above said main valve member and a sleeve loosely mounted on said stem between said collar and said top part to limit the movement of the latter along said stem when said lower valve part is screwed onto said valve stem, said sleeve being of similar noncircular contour to t on said valve stem, and said yoke connects said sleeve and said valve seat ring to impart turning movement thereto from said stem in order to remove said ring from said barrel.

10. The structure dened in claim 1 in which the lower end of the valve stem is ycircular in cross section and the valve member comprises top and bottom parts with valve seat packing held between them, said parts having cooperat- -ing engaging means which lock them against relative turning movement with respect to one another around the axis of the valve stem, said bottom part comprising a nut threaded onto the lower end of said stem, said top part having a circular opening therethrough and fitting over the lower end of said stem above its threaded end, and including a set screw extending through said top valve part and into said stem to lock said top valve part thereto.-

11. The structure dened in claim 1 in which the valve stem is polygonal in cross section and the valve member comprises top and bottom parts with valve seat packing held between them, said parts having cooperating engaging means which llock them against relative turning movement with respect to one another around the axis of the valve stem, said bottom part comprising a nut threaded onto the lower end of said stem, said top valve part having an opening therethrough and tting over the valve stem yabove its threaded end, and said top valve part having a cylindrical boss surrounding said stem and being crimped inwardly at spaced points against la plurality of the side faces of said stem to lock said top valve part thereto.

ROBERT H. MUELLER. EARL E. CLINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 80,143 Coin July 21, 1868 196,540 Rohn Oct. 30, 1877 204,010 Donahoe May 21, 1878 1,083,291 Miller Jan. 6, 1914 1,083,307 Thorne Jan. 6, 1914 1,445,380 Wright Feb. 13, 1923 1,572,033 Parker Feb. 9, 1926 1,605,011 Storey Nov. 2, 1926 1,605,624 Storey Nov. 2, 1926 2,019,515 Waterous Nov. 5, 1935 2,019,804 Waterous Nov. 5, 1935 2,200,770 Burdick May 14, 1940 2,555,727 Bolser June 5,` 1951 

